Secretary of State at DESNZ, Ed Miliband, gave a lengthy speech this morning to the Energy UK conference. The text of the full speech can be found following the link below.
- The energy trilemma – the trade-offs between affordability, security and sustainability – and said for Britain, this old paradigm has disintegrated.
- Fossil fuels simply cannot provide us with the security, or the affordability, we need.
- Trilemma has been replaced by a clean energy imperative: the drive to clean energy is right not just on grounds of climate but also energy security and affordability.
- Climate Change Committee had states “British-based renewable energy is the cheapest and fastest way to reduce vulnerability to volatile global fossil fuel markets.”
- Outlined the recent energy price increases and said the crisis wasn’t over, noting the price cap would increase in October.
- Britain had paid a heavy price due to exposure to fossil fuels. He said “so as long as we are dependent on fossil fuels, no matter where they come from, we will be stuck on the roller-coaster of volatile international markets.”
- The security case for reducing fossil fuel use was clear. He noted “No one has ever weaponised access to the sun or the wind.”
- On affordability, the dramatic drop in the price of renewables.?He said renewables were the cheapest form of power to build and operate.
- The construction of renewable generation protected the UK from price shocks, while blocking construction increased the UK's exposure.
- The 2030 clean power mission was a chance to create hundreds of thousands of good jobs and drive investment into all parts of the UK. He said that was why the clean energy mission was at the heart of the growth mission.
- How the role of government can contribute: as architect of the clean energy system, as the driver of the dynamism and as the guarantor of fairness in the transition.?He said Mission Control was about a new way of working, bringing together the relevant players across government and industry to plan and deliver. He noted this expert advice will inform the 2030 plan.
- The transition must tackle inequality. He said it must tackle fuel poverty, create good jobs, clean up our air, improve access to nature and quality of life.
- Government was the architect, driver of dynamism and guarantor of fairness, working in the closest partnership with business to make this transition a success.
